The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has offered the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government to discuss the possibility of early general elections.
However, the olive branch comes with a threat. “Give us a date for elections or we will dissolve Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies,” Khan said in a video address to the PTI’s Punjab parliamentary party.
“We have the full backing of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q),” Imran Khan said, adding that Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will disband the provincial assembly on his call.
“No elections, no political stability in the country,” Khan declared, adding that the coalition government was not willing to consider snap polls because they know they would be wiped out.
“The only plan they have is to somehow have me disqualified by filing cases against me and other party leaders,” he observed.
In response to Khan’s invitation to talks, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leadership will not refuse to hold dialogue.
“Discouraging dialogue is considered non-political and undemocratic by PDM. Its leadership will not refuse to sit and talk. We believe in resolving political matters in a political manner,” he said in a statement reacting to Khan’s invitation.
Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, has said that the Asia Cup will not be held at a neutral venue.
“India is not coming, I can understand. But to take the Asia Cup away from us is not right. There’s no reason why India can’t c
ome to Pakistan and Pakistan go to India,” he said.
Raja also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other top cricket nations to adopt a fair stance rather than staying quiet on important matters.
“I think the ICC have got to think more out of the box. I’m not just looking at India and Pakistan, but the England Cricket Board and Australian Cricket Board, neutral boards who have held important positions who can be fair regarding an issue. But when they keep quiet it frustrates me completely,” he stated.
“You have to be emotionally engaged in our concerns. If somebody crosses the line they need to be told and not brushed under the carpet,” he stressed. Earlier, Ramiz said Pakistan will boycott the ICC World Cup 2023 if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup.
The Pakistani rupee (PKR) once again remained unchanged versus the US dollar in the interbank market during the final trading session of the week.
It is worth noting that this is the fourth time that the local currency has shown a 0.00 per cent change this week. The only change witnessed in the rupee’s value was reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on December 1, when the rupee appreciated only 0.12 per cent to close at Rs223.69.
The rupee closed at Rs223.69 against the US dollar on Friday. On a weekly basis, the PKR registered an increase of 0.11 per cent against the greenback.
Additionally, the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $327 million every week, totaling $7.5 billion as of November 25, 2022.
For Pakistan, which has been frantically pursuing dollar inflows to meet its balance-of-payments needs, the reserve position is crucial. A low reserve level puts pressure on the currency, which has recently only experienced stability.
As data showing increased US consumer spending in October encouraged investor hopes that the peak in interest rates was on the horizon, the dollar held steady on Friday but was pinned down near 16-week lows against a basket of major currencies.
A stronger US dollar limited gains as oil prices, a major metric of currency parity, edged up in Asian trading on Friday on expectations for further easing of COVID controls in China, which might aid in the recovery of demand in the world’s second-largest economy.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has approved Bahawalpur Corps Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed’s application seeking early retirement.
He was in the running for the top slot for army chief and was scheduled to retire in April 2023.
Earlier, Lt Gen Hameed sent his application to General Headquarters (GHQ), from where it was forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval via the Ministry of Defence.
The development comes days after the federal government appointed General Asim Munir as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
Previously, Lt Gen Hameed served as the Director-General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) while Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. He had been criticised by former Premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for allegedly playing an unconstitutional role in their convictions and for backing the previous set-up under PTI.
Just a day after the appointment of Lt Gen Asim Munir as the new army chief of Pakistan, the media had reported that Lt General Hameed was considering an early appointment.
American rapper Kanye West has been ordered to pay his former wife Kim Kardashian $200,000 (PKR 4.5 crore) per month in child support in a divorce settlement.
The former rapper and reality TV star will share joint custody of their four children.
Kardashian filed for divorce in 2021, after eight years with West, who has legally changed his name to Ye.
It comes after several companies cut ties with Ye over controversies including antisemitic comments.
Both parties were declared legally single in March, with Kardashian also dropping “West” from her last name.
Issues around the division of property and custody of their children were resolved in court documents filed on Tuesday.
The two parties should consult with each other on major decisions about their children’s welfare, the documents state.
Expenses for the children’s security, school, and college will be shared.
In addition, Ye is expected to pay $200,000 a month in child support – which the New York Post reported is because the children will spend the majority of their time with Kardashian.
The couple has four children: North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3.
In several statements submitted earlier, Kardashian, 42, had said she “very much” wanted the marriage to be ended, adding that this would “help Kanye to accept” that the relationship was over.
Ye, 45, had previously fought against the separation.
He has faced controversy in recent months and has been dropped by several brands, including Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga.
The rapper provoked widespread criticism earlier this year after attending Paris Fashion Week wearing a t-shirt bearing a “White Lives Matter” slogan – a phrase often used by white supremacists.
He then claimed his critics were being paid by a secret cabal of Jewish people, a common trope of antisemitism.
Earlier this week, Ye announced his intention to run for US president in 2024.
He previously ran in 2020 but gained just 70,000 votes.
The two married in a lavish wedding in Italy in the year 2014.
West has reportedly been living at their home in Wyoming, while Kardashian has stayed in California with their children.
The couple met in the early 2000s, but it would be years before they became romantically involved.
West interviewed his wife for Vogue Arabia and asked her about the first time they met.
“This was before you released your first album and you were known as a music producer. I was really shy. You thought I was (singer) Brandy’s assistant, which I wasn’t,” Kardashian West recalled. “Ever since you said that, it’s everywhere … like ‘Kim is Brandy’s assistant.’ I was her friend and stylist. I thought you were attractive, nice, very charming, really funny, powerful — I was in awe of you, but I was really shy, quiet, and a little nervous, to be honest.”
Both had high-profile relationships before they went public with their love in 2012.
West famously proposed to Kardashian by renting out a sports stadium and hiring an orchestra, as her family watched from nearby — all of which was documented and shared on the family’s popular E! reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
The couple have four children together. Daughter North was born in 2013, followed by a son, Saint, in 2015, daughter, Chicago, in 2018, and son, Psalm, in 2019.
“Gratitude and happiness best describe what my wife means to me,” he wrote. “I’m deeply grateful and purely happy.”
Kardashian, for her part, has also often spoke out in defense of her husband, who has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder and stirred controversy with his provocative tweets and political views.
Last summer, Kim sought understanding from the public in a social media post.
“I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions,” she wrote in a statement shared on social media.
“He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of the pressures of being an artist and a black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother, and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder. Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions.”
Earlier, the couple wanted to keep their split under the radar and were in settlement talks but now they are done.
Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has said that Senator Azam Swati has been “taken away by the Quetta police” from Islamabad despite his health concerns.
In a tweet on Friday (today), the party chief stated, “Swati was moved to PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) early morning after suffering severe chest pains and breathing issues.”
“While test results were awaited, Quetta police got him discharged and took him away endangering his life,” he further said.
Equally outrageous is what is being considered such a great crime would in entire civilised world be considered his democratic right to criticise. He must be released immediately. Sad to see our justice system unwilling to stop repeated violations of Swati’s basic human rights.
Terming the Quetta police act “a great crime”, Imran demanded the immediate release of his party’s senator.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Umar said Swati was “handed over” to Balochistan police and taken to Quetta without waiting for medical reports from the hospital or waiting for the high court’s decision. He further blamed the “imported government” for “flouting fundamental rights and refusing to follow due process of law.”
Without waiting for medical reports from the hospital or waiting for the high court decision, azam swati handed over to balochistan police and taken to quetta. Shameful how the imported govt is flouting fundamental rights and refusing to follow due process of law
According to media reports, the arrest has been made over different cases registered against the senator across Balochistan. It is pertinent to mention that several First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered within 24 hours against PTI leader Swati for his controversial tweets at different police stations in Karachi, Quetta, Jacobabad Qambar, Lasbela, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Kandhkot, and other cities.
Earlier today, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Swati seeking details of the FIRs registered against him.
The court, asking if the federal government has no administrative control, had reserved its verdict on the plea.
A day earlier, Swati approached the Supreme Court (SC) to request the transfer of all cases registered against him in Sindh and Balochistan to Islamabad. The same day, an Islamabad court sent the senator on 14-day judicial remand.
In a petition to the apex court, Swati has said that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested him in a false case, adding that multiple cases were registered against him in the country, and he faces a security threat when appearing in various courts.
Last Sunday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Swati — for the second time in less than two months — for speaking against the army.
Luxury watchmaker Rolex SA will start issuing certificates of authenticity to authorised dealers selling pre-owned Rolex watches.
According to the report, Bucherer, a Swiss retailer, will be the first to start offering pre-owned Rolex watches that have been certified as authentic by the brand at its retail locations across Europe.
The report also stated that other authorised Rolex dealers can start taking part in the initiative in the spring of 2023.
In an effort to deter market flippers who sell recently released watches above retail, Rolex stated that it will only certify timepieces that have been purchased at least three years prior.
Rolex, a luxury brand whose timepieces predominate in secondhand sales through dealers and online, is making a dramatic turn by authenticating its own used watches. Deloitte predicts that the market for high-end used watches would reach $35 billion by 2030.
Prior to this, Rolex did not play a part in authenticating or monitoring the products it supplied to its dealer network. Additionally, the action will help to strengthen its brand and weed out fakes.
Auction houses and unlicensed sellers of used watches both offline and online will not be permitted to take part in the programme.
Secondhand watches have already been certified by other Swiss watchmakers. The majority of pre-owned timepieces sold are Rolex watches.
Independent brands like H. Moser & Cie and MB&F, as well as smaller rival brands like Vacheron Constantin and Zenith, sell pre-owned watches in their own boutiques. Richemont, which owns Vacheron as well as a stable of brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, and A. Lange & Sohne, purchased online retailer Watchfinder in 2018.
Authorized dealers may occasionally sell certified pre-owned timepieces through the programme at a premium to those offered at retail rates for new watches in rare circumstances. These models include enduringly well-liked categories like the Rolex Submariner, Daytona, and GMT that frequently sell above retail pricing because retail demand outpaces supply.
It was previously believed that the demand for luxury watches increased as a result of many wealthy customers learning about Swiss brands like Rolex, Omega, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe while confined to their houses during the pandemic.
According to estimates from Morgan Stanley, Rolex is the largest Swiss watch brand, producing over 1 million watches annually, with annual sales of roughly 8 billion Swiss francs ($8.5 billion) and a market share of close to 29 per cent.
As demand for Rolex, Omega, and Vacheron Constantin timepieces continued to soar, Swiss watch exports hit record highs in July, with prices rising to their highest levels in eight years, according to a report from Bloomberg in August.
Veteran journalist Imran Aslam breathed his last on Friday morning at the age of 70 after a long battle with cancer. The newsman was also the president of Geo and Jang Group.
In his decades long career, Imran Aslam was a renowned as a scriptwriter, actor, voice actor, and president of a TV network. His son Taimur has said that his father’s funeral prayers will be offered after Asr on Saturday near their house and the burial will take place at a graveyard in DHA, Phase 8, Karachi.
People from all walks of life condoled Aslam’s death.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a tweet, “Saddened by the passing of veteran journalist and president of Geo TV Imran Aslam. He belonged to a breed of journalists who made eminent contribution to the development of Pakistani journalism. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends & colleagues.”
Saddened by the passing of veteran journalist and president of Geo TV Imran Aslam. He belonged to a breed of journalists who made eminent contribution to the development of Pakistani journalism. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends & colleagues.
Heartbroken to hear about the passing away of Imran Aslam An outstanding professional , a caring human being and a close friend. May Allah give him a place in Jannat. Ameen pic.twitter.com/nhAPyjyEyw
Deeply saddened to hear about Imran Aslam’s passing in Karachi. Describing what he was or what he excelled in is beyond this space. Tippu as he was known, was a polymath,as well as a dear friend from decades of journalism together. Pakistan’s cultural space lost a big creator.
Woke up to this sad news that #ImranAslam sahib is no more. Many journalists, including myself, owe our careers to him. May Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/Q2oZx1gIqI
Shocking new. My old colleague and presently Group President GEO and Jang, Imran Aslam has passed away this morning. May Allah give his family strength to bear the loss. He was one of the finest person i came across since the days i first met him in 90s in daily The Star.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi has revealed that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised his party to back Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) when the no-confidence motion was moved against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Elahi further revealed that both PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had made offers to PML-Q. However, Gen (retd) Bajwa asked them to support the Imran Khan-led party. “I had an inclination towards PTI, and everyone knows about it. So I discussed it with my father. And then my father said to side with [PTI]. If Bajwa was so bad, why did he ask us to side with PTI at such a crucial junction,” he asked during an interview with Meher Bokhari.
It was General Bajwa who asked us to side with Imran Khan and go against PDM, says Moonis Elahi dealing a blow to PTI’s foreign conspiracy narrative pic.twitter.com/GXG3fdHkcc
Moonis then criticized the social media campaign against General Bajwa, stating that, “Certain elements are busy on social media bashing Bajwa sahib without any reason. This is the same Bajwa who changed the course of rivers for the PTI. Back then he [Bajwa] was right, but now he is not. I have a total disagreement with those who are now talking against him.”
“When he was giving you all-out support, he was right,” the PML-Q leader said, wondering if Bajwa how had the retired military head now become a “traitor” to them.
Moonis said that there was no doubt that the former COAS fully supported PTI, but when he withdrew his support, he had become a bad person. “This is a bad example and I have a disagreement with them on it. He [Bajwa] was never against the PTI.”
“Had he [Bajwa] been against them [PTI] at that juncture, he just had to give a signal, and we would have been sitting with them [PDM],” Moonis said.
The PML-Q leader said when the establishment says that they have nothing to do with politics, he believes that because they have not influenced the Punjab government.
Following the Ministry of Finance’s decision to allow blocked payments to international service providers, including Google, on the advise of IT Minister Aminul Haque, Pakistan averted the suspension of paid Google Play mobile apps on Thursday.
وزارت خزانہ نے وزیر آئی ٹی سید امین الحق کی تجویز مان لی، گوگل کو ادائیگی پر راضی
“پیمنٹس شیڈول کے مطابق کی جاسکیں گی، پیڈ گوگل ایپس بند نہیں ہونگی،” (امین الحق) pic.twitter.com/7rsFIogU5v
A $34 million payment suspension by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to foreign service providers might have prevented inward mobile users from downloading paid Google Play Store services using their cell balance as a source of payment starting on December 1, 2022.
After the SBP stopped using the direct carrier billing (DCB) mechanism, a $34 million payment to foreign service providers like Google, Amazon, and Meta was put on hold.
Using their mobile phone carrier bill as a form of payment, users of the DCB online mobile payment system can make purchases.
According to Geo, customers of telecommunications firms can buy these products using airtime and send money abroad to pay for IT-related services.
However, Tariq Bajwa, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Finance, got in touch with Haque and expressed his thoughts on the payments that had been halted.
The Finance Ministry agreed to distribute the payments on schedule, the IT minister later confirmed.
Insisting that “paid Google Play apps will not be suspended in Pakistan,” he said that the Finance Ministry had instructed the SBP to postpone for one month the implementation of the policy that had blocked payments.
He stated that the payment method must be implemented by telecom companies within a month.
According to the IT minister, the ministry has written to the finance minister, Ishaq Dar, requesting a timeline for the implementation of the telecom operators’ request for help from the government. Haque commended Dar and Bajwa for their prompt judgement.
